WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College field hockey team opened its season Thursday night against visiting Allegheny College in a non-conference match at Cameron Stadium. The Presidents built a two-goal lead in the third quarter and seemed poised to claim a victory. However, the visiting Gators rallied with two late goals to force overtime before ultimately claiming a 4-3 victory in a shootout.

Things started well for the Presidents, who claimed an early lead when sophomore Camryn Cresci (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. DuPont) found the back of the cage just 3:19 into the match. The Gators were able to answer with the game-tying strike late in the first quarter as Maya Francisco scored off an assist from Kelsey Anderson. The score remained tied 1-1 throughout the second quarter as the teams entered halftime all evened up. 

W&J regained the lead in the early stages of the third quarter when Bailey Miller (Lancaster, Pa. / Manheim Township) made a strong defensive play to lead to an offensive opportunity for the Presidents. A takeaway by Miller led to a 3-1 break for the Presidents. Miller sent a pass ahead to classmate Lily Giering (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township), who found a cutting Hailey Wachowiak (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) in front of the net. Wachowiak's tally made it 3-1 Presidents in the 37th minute of play. 

Allegheny answered with a pair of fourth quarter goals to force overtime. The first goal came when Hannah Sharp found the back right corner of the goal just two-plus minutes into the fourth. Maya Francisco collected the ball in front of the cage and scored with less than two minutes remaining. Francisco played a role in all three Gators goals with two goals and an assist in the eventual victory. 

Neither team was able to score in the two 10-minute overtime sessions and the match went to a shootout. Both teams were only able to muster a goal each in the best of five format due to strong play by the respective goalkeepers. Allegheny scored in round six and denied W&J on its chance to pick up the season-opening victory. 

Anastasia Godat (Baltimore, Md./Concordia Preparatory School) made 11 saves in net for the Presidents. Diggan tallied a goal and an assist to pace the offense. 

W&J returns to action when it hosts Shenandoah University on Sunday, Sept. 4. Start time is set for 1 p.m. at Cameron Stadium.